| Author | Message | ||
| dnburgess
Intermediate Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 150 Registered: 1-2003 |
I wish to design a bass with three key criteria: 1. Start with a Rogue or Europa, to fill a gap in my demo lineup. 2. It has to be a serious "rock bass" - i.e. something that a metal player can relate to - once again to balance out my demo lineup. 3. I want to indulge my personal fantasy of a black instrument. Hence the "Nightbass". Other design elements / issues: 1. The colour scheme should be black, silver (mithril) and white exclusively. 2. I would like the astrological glyph for Neptune inlaid somewhere. (Sterling silver maybe?) 3. Scale length: personally I would prefer 32" - but is this truly rocking? Should I go the other way to 35" or more? 4. How many strings? Personally I prefer 4. Are there any good black coloured strings we can use? 5. Hardware: I've seen the gunmetal effect on FC June 2000 but was wondering whether silver plating is feasible? What about durability? 6. Sound: Warm and dark. I am open to suggestions and would appreciate Susan's as well, especially on the inlay. | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 250 Registered: 5-2002 |
David; if you are wanting a warm and dark tone from a black instrument (and if cost isn't a factor), I'm thinking Ebony (thus you won't have to paint it). To some extent I'm kidding, all Ebony might be a bit much. But ask Rami; I guess he's the expert in what a lot of Ebony sounds like. Maybe an Ebony top and back with a Maple core and a five piece neck with three parts Ebony and two parts Maple. The June 2000 bass looks neat and I can see that's what your after; but personally, I'm just not a fan of paint <g>. | ||
| dnburgess
Intermediate Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 152 Registered: 1-2003 |
I've already got six instruments with various woods - so I'm looking at a painted finish, most likely. I've always liked piano lacquer type finishes. Maybe chromalusion - would it be possible to have a black finish that sort of shifted to silver in certain light? | ||
| dnburgess
Intermediate Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 157 Registered: 1-2003 |
The overall vibe is a cloudless night during a full moon. | ||
| rockandroller
Member Username: rockandroller Post Number: 70 Registered: 11-2002 |
32 inch is entirely rocking - hell, any "real" bass player can rock out vigorously on a short scale bass (just ask Paul McCartney...) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1340 Registered: 6-2000 |
I'll check on the chromalusions to see if something will do the trick. Maybe black allover with a "burst" of clear with titanum covered mica flakes. Our silverplater retired earlier this year and we haven't found a replacement. The nickel plating is very close in color to silver (not as cold a chrome) and it doesn't require polishing. The gunmetal (blackened brass) is quite durable nickel oxide. Black strings - we've got some tapewound LaBellas in stock. These should get the dark tone you're looking for. There's got to be some others out there. Either a solid mahog body or maybe capped with vermilion like the Stealth bass. If it's a 4-string, I'd go with 32" scale. As a fiver, you might find a 34 or 35 customer sooner. Neptune glyph inlay in silver - could look cool on the peghead, below the tailpiece, or across the 11-13 fret positions. Is the fingerboard to be otherwise blank? Should it have blue LEDs? Neat idea, though I must warn you that if history is correct, black basses take the longest to sell, so if you get one, make sure it's one you won't mind enjoying for a while. But I suspect your nightbass idea may have more appeal than a black Distillate in 1988. | ||
| dnburgess
Intermediate Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 161 Registered: 1-2003 |
1. Nickel plating, yes. 2. Try the LaBellas - unless anyone objects 3. What accoustic effect, if any, will result from vermillion vs solid mahog? 4. Sold on the 4 string, 32" scale. 5. Blue LEDs yes. 6. Look forward to inlay ideas. 7. Blank fingerboard - maybe - can you point me to any pictures of black Tahitian mop? I like the subtlety of black on black. 8. Is it possible to "blacken" the frets? 7. This is to show "something completely different" from my other demo instruments as well as being a bit of a personal indulgence - so doesn't have to sell like hot cakes. | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 292 Registered: 7-2002 |
hello David, The vermillion body should yield a warmer tone than the mahogany. Black frets would look horrible fairly fast, because with playing the plating would chip. Here's the link to a triple omega with Black Tahitian mother of pearl dot inlays. Mica and I could not think of another example right off the bat. http://alembic.com/info/tripleomega.html Merry Christmas Valentino | ||
| dnburgess
Intermediate Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 163 Registered: 1-2003 |
Thanks Val - vermillion top it is then. The Black Tahitian mop inlays on that FC don't look very black. When you get back from Xmas shutdown could you post some more pictures here? |
